17th Latino Film Festival offers films, education, celebration

SAN DIEGO ---- A film festival with beginnings as an event to
show off creative student talent, the San Diego Latino Film
Festival has never forgotten its educational roots.

The festival has also grown into a full-spectrum event, one of
the most respected Latino film festivals in the world. The 17th
annual version happens Thursday through March 21 at the UltraStar
Mission Valley Cinemas Hazard Center, with 185 films from around
the world, including entries from Mexico, most South American
countries, Spain and the U.S., among many others.

The event also includes numerous workshops, parties, art shows
and concerts. An abundance of screening and workshop opportunities
for students are included, and the festival offers a family day, a
celebration of women filmmakers and other special events.

"The festival started as a student film festival ---- Cine
Estudiantil ---- held at local colleges and universities, and now
has grown into a festival that attracts close to 20,000 people per
year," said Ethan van Thillo, the festival's founder and executive
director. "In addition to the 185 films, we will have 85 special
guests."

As the festival has grown in quality, it's also grown in
space.

"In the beginning, we only were able to screen on one screen at
a time," van Thillo said. "Now, the festival has four screens
within UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas Hazard Center. This allows
us to present the diversity of the Latino community and to screen
something for everyone. We are able to screen family films, a
celebration of Latino horror and sci-fi films, animation,
gay-lesbian programming, shorts, documentaries, dramas, comedies
and more."

"Dora the Explorer, her cousin Diego and ---- new this year ----
Kai-Lan will be in person at 11 a.m. March 14," van Thillo said.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to take photos with your favorite
Nickelodeon characters. We also have a great collection of
filmmaker workshops, as part of our Reel Talks celebration.
Students can learn how to produce and get into the music video
business, pitch their documentary to PBS, and learn how to tell
their own digital story."

The Cine Mujer Celebration, funded by the Motion Picture Academy
of Arts & Sciences, celebrates films directed by women. More
than 40 films will be screened in this category.

Van Thillo said attendees can take photos with special guests,
ask for autographs, and participate in Q&A sessions after each
film. Parties include the opening-night bash March 11 at the Se San
Diego Hotel downtown, and a closing party at the US Grant
Hotel.

"The festival always supports local and up-and coming
filmmakers," van Thillo said. "We have a collection of local
filmmakers spotlighted in our Frontera Filmmakers program. Also, a
showcase of teen producers spotlighted in our Youth Visions
program. The festival also has an entire collection of Opera Primus
this year ---- feature films directed by first-time
filmmakers."